An interesting and intriguing Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Temporary Second Lieutenant T. R. Innes, Cameron Highlanders, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Scottish Rifles

Military Medal, G.V.R. (S-31768 Pte., 5/Cam’n. Highrs.); 1914 Star (7107 Pte., 5/Sco. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (S-31768 Pte., Camerons), mounted as worn; with Camerons Highlander’s other ranks’ cap badge, good very fine (5) £500-600

Thomas Richard Innes joined the 5th Battalion Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) on 10 August 1914, aged 20 years, 11 months, having been a member of the Glasgow University O.T.C. for the previous two years. He landed in France on 5 November 1914 and served in a maxim gun section. He was then commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders (London Gazette 25 November 1915). The battalion had been decimated at the attack on Loos, 25 September 1915, where they won a V.C. but only two officers and 70 men remained out of 820. The battalion was soon back in action and Innes was hospitalised due to a gunshot wound at Ploegsteert on 8 February 1916, but was passed fit for return to duty on 17 May 1916 from the Military Hospital, Stirling.

His next posting, in April 1917, was to the 12th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, part of the 26th Division at Salonika. His arrival was at the beginning of a great offensive using the 22nd and 26th Divisions. The artillery commenced a bombardment of the enemy’s wire and trenches on 21 April and on 24 April the 26th Division made a direct attack across the Jumeaux Ravine. In two days of fighting the Division suffered greatly, both from a severe artillery barrage and a series of counterattacks by the Bulgarians. having withdrawn from the area, the 26th Division went into reserve and for the following two weeks rested and refitted. A new attack was to be made across the Juneaux Ravine on the night of 8 May. Again the Division was heavily involved in a two-day engagement and once more was unable to make any headway. This was the last operation due to the intense heat of the Macedonian summer, and it would have been during this period that Innes suffered his second wound.

There then appears in Innes’s papers a letter from him via the Adjutant to the Commanding Officer, requesting that he may be allowed to resign his commission (August 1917).

‘.... For some time past I have been deliberating about resigning my commission owing to utter incapability of performing my duties in a satisfactory manner. I now wish to take the step definitely and request that my application to resign my commission in H.M. Army be forwarded to the proper authorities. ...’

The ‘odd’ wording of the letter and the official comments of Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Falconar-Stewart, commanding the 12th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, suggest that some coercion was involved.

In a confidential report Falconar-Stewart wrote: ‘This officer has been with this battalion since April 1917, & has proved himself incapable of handling men & performing his duties as a platoon commander. His ideas of military discipline are such as to result in harm to the men under him. The attached letter from himself was written voluntarily and before this report was written. I have nothing against his moral character. I recommend that his services be dispensed with at his own request.’

The next step was for Innes to be personally interviewed by the 77th Brigade Commander. He recommended Innes be sent for a 14 day course of platoon officer training followed by a posting to another unit and that if after then he was found to be unsuitable his resignation should be accepted. The Brigade Commander identified the following mitigating circumstances: ‘1. He obtained his commission direct from a Private in a maxim gun section. 2. After 3 weeks training in France he was made Battalion Wiring Officer and had practically never been in a platoon. 3. He was invalided to England for 6 months but as an expeditionary force officer he was barred from attending any special courses at home. 4. He was again wounded at the ? and has no real opportunity of learning his duties.’

Despite the Brigade Commander’s very strong recommendations, the Divisional Commander’s subsequent remarks showed no flexibility in his attitude. ‘This officer appears to be unable to carry out his duties for want of capacity. The schools of instruction are not intended for such officers. I recommend that his services be dispensed with.’

With that, the unfortunate Innes was sent home and his resignation became official (London Gazette 23 November 1917). He was then recalled as a Private in the Cameron Highlanders and subsequently won the Military Medal for bravery in action (London Gazette 6 August 1918). A very interesting and intriguing group to a ‘Private’ who spent half the war as an officer, was twice wounded and won the M.M. Sold with copied service papers, gazette extracts, M.M. award card, m.i.c. and two postcards portraying the Cameronians and Cameron Highlanders.